Best Poles for Arthritis

What are the best trekking poles to use if you have arthritis in your hands?

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Question:

I have arthritis in my hands and need to replace some worn out Leki trekking poles. They had a straight foam grip rather than a shaped grip. I’m hoping to find something that will hurt my hands less. Can you recommend anything?

Submitted by - Jane, Hatfield, PA

Answer:

I can’t promise anything, but I have some ideas. First, I suggest avoiding the straight grip. An ergonomic grip on your poles should be more comfortable, even with arthritic hands. Second, be sure your poles have wide wrist straps, use them all of the time, and use them correctly: Put your hands up through the bottom of the strap loops, and settle the straps comfortably around your wrists. Snug them up. If the straps are too loose, they won’t work nearly as well as snug-fitting ones. The straps will take a lot of stress off your hands. Finally, you might get a bit more relief with poles that have shock absorbers, but they are more expensive. For more info on selecting trekking poles, check out this Gear School. —Buck

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